Building wall of hollow blocks



Sept. 5, 1950 F. B. CHENEY BUILDING WALL OF HOLLOW BLOCKS Filed Oct. 16; 1943 0 2 wW VWfiiiifii m 7 7 6 m 10 10 v 2 .2 2 v u 7 E W m W 3 7 w w H 9 I F I. JMW

FRANK B. CHENEY INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1950 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to building walls and blocks therefor, and more particularly to walls and blocks made of concrete, cinder concrete, or the like, which have desirable insulating properties.

Concrete building blocks have heretofore been provided with one or more apertures extending vertically therethrough, for lessening the weight of the block. Such blocks are normally placed in rows or tiers, with the blocks of one row in staggered relation with respect to the blocks of each adjacent row. However, when there are two vertical apertures through the block, as is the usual case, there are a plurality of vertical apertures extending substantially the height of the wall, which permit considerable circulation of air upwardly and/ or downwardly of the wall. Also, there is considerable transfer of heat through the concrete blocks, which is to be expected, since the apertures in the blocks are provided merely to lessen the amount of material used rather than provide desirable insulating qualities.

There have also been attempts to utilize hollow core pieces, entirely surrounded by cementitious or other material, but again this is done for lightness in weight, and not to provide desirable insulating qualities.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a building block which is light in weight and therefore requires a minimum amount of material, yet is highly effective as an insulator; to provide such a block which prevents movement or circulation of air through hollow spaces in a wall, when a plurality of such blocks are utilized in constructing the wall; to provide such a block which is composed partially of relatively light and cheap material, such as cardboard or the like; to provide such a block which may utilize a cardboard box, which is very cheap and easily procured, as a component part thereof to provide a building wall formed of such blocks, wherein the tendency for heat to be transferred from the inside to the outside of the wall, or vice versa, is considerably reduced; to provide a wall in which blocks of the above character are utilized; and to provide a building block of the above character, which is relatively simple in construc- 1 tion and easy to handle. Other objects and the novel features of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

A building wall constructed in accordance with this invention may comprise a plurality of blocks, each consisting of an inner insulating box completely enclosing a dead air space, and the top, bottom, sides and ends of which are of corrugated or multi-layer construction in which a double thickness of material is separated by a convoluted or corrugated thickness of material which provides a plurality of dead air spaces within the walls of the box itself. This inner box is composed of relatively light material, such as cardboard or the like, and is exposed on the top and bottom. Extending along the two opposite sides and the ends of the box is a wall of relatively strong material, such as concrete or the like, which takes the load imposed upon the wall. Each end wall of concrete, connecting the two side walls, assists in holding the block together and also functions as a load-carrying element. Such blocks may be placed in a building wall and constructed in accordance with this invention, as set forth in the more detailed description which follows, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wall formed of light weight blocks having desirable insulating qualities, each constructed in accordance with this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross section of a block constructed in accordance with this invention, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a block constructed in accordance with this invention taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated in the drawing, a building wall may be constructed of a plurality of blocks B, each of which embodies this invention. Each block B may comprise an inner insulating box It formed of relatively light material, such as cardboard, plywood, plastic, or the like, and an outer wall I l of relatively strong material, preferably extending along two sides and the ends of the inner box. As used herein and in the appended claims relatively strong material refers to material which is relatively strong in resistance to compression stresses, the preferred material being wet-poured concrete, though other suitable materials, such as cinder concrete, clay, or the like may be used. Preferably, the relatively strong material is such that it may be poured or formed about the two sides and ends of the inner box, and become bonded to the same. Although the above materials are relatively weak in resistance to tension and shear stresses, it will be understood that materials which are relatively strong in resistance to tension and/or shear stresses in addition to being relatively strong in resistance to compression stresses, may be utilized.

The inner box I0 forms a dead air space I2 in the interior thereof which acts to retard heat transfer through the block and wall. To further increase the retardation of heat transfer, the top l3, bottom I 4, ends [5 and sides I6 of the inner box are preferably constructed so as to provide a plurality of dead air spaces I! by consisting of an outer thickness l8 and inner thickness IQ of material, with a corrugated or similarly convoluted thickness 29' of material interposed therebetween. Such corrugated wall construction of the inner box not only greatly enhances the insulating properties of the block, but also strengthens the inner box, and thus minimizes the tendency for the box to collapse when concrete or the like is poured around the box in forming the block. The fact that the top l3 and bottom M. of the box preferably is not contacted by the concrete or the like fiurther minimizes; any: tendency for the box to. collapse during pourilng, since apouring form may be utilized on which the bottom I4 rests. Another part of the form may extend over,

all or a portion of the top l3, to holdthe. box more.

securely in position during pouring. Of course, if desired, the block may be poured from. the end, with one end of box ID spaced from the bottom of the form, and the top and bottom of the box against two opposite sides of the form.. Again, the form may be disposed at an angle, for readier pouring. Since the inner box. is. relatively light, itmay be found desirable to utilize a. suitable pin, brace orother means for holding the box in place during pouring, inv case. there is any tendency for the box. to float to the top. of the material being poured, or otherwise become. displaced. When the poured material. is. concrete, such. brace may be removed. when the concrete is partially set and the hole thereby left filled With fresh concrete, if it does, not fill naturally.

The blocks constructed in the above manner. may be. utilized in a number of different ways to iorm a wall. Preferably, the blocks. are placed inrowsor. tiers, as in Fig. 1,.with the blocks of. one. row disposed in staggered relation with respect to the. blocks of an adjacent row, both above and be- Mortar Z0. is placed along the tops of. the

concrete side walls, and between the ends of the sidewalls. No. mortar is placedbetween the concreteend walls of adjacent. blocks, or at the topor bottom of the end walls. The mortar between the. ends. of the concrete sidewalls causesan insulating space ii, to be formedbetween the concrete end. walls ll'li of adjacentiblocks inthe same row, while the. mortar between the tops and bot.- tom of the concrete side walls causes an air space to be. provided between the inner boxes of adjacent blocks. in rows, above. and below each other.

' The advantages. of the above described. building. wall. and. block therefor are numerous. and varied. The. inner. box. reduces the. weight of material. usedfto a minimum, which. reductionin weight is. of. particular benefit when the wall issupported.

uponbeams or the like and. the load of a ceiling, rooi or. the like iscarried by supporting members,

such as. I.-beams,. as inv skyscrapers. or. certain types of mill construction. The. completely enclosed dead air. space. within. each. block not only reduces the. amount of heat transferred through.

the blocks, but also preventsany circulation of air' through. the. Wall; composed of such blocks. The

end wallsof. relatively strong material, whichare preferably made. as. thinas is. consistent with. the. block holding. together during handling and construction of the wall, permits a minimum amountof heat to be transferred through the block, This isof some importance, since the coefiicientofheat, transfer. through therel'atively strongv material is.

normally, or course, much greater than the. coefficient'ojfi heat, transfer through. the inner. box. There is little opportunity for heat. to. be trans.- ferred upwardly; or downwardly from block to bloclcsince the end Walls: of such block. are disposed centrally of the. insulating corrugated. top. or bottom offthe inner boX of the block above and.

below; Also, air spacesili between the. end.wall's,,

and air: spaces betw en the rows of'blocks, provide a further. insulating eifect, but} are relatively.

' thin, being, only the thickness. of, the mortar. be.-

tween the. blocks, and thus provide little oppor- I.

tunitygfor'air currents to 110W between the. blocks. This is particularly true of vertical air currents,

- the inner box were not provided, and a Wall formed of such blocks is more stable, due to the increased footage and base area of the wall itself and of each component block..

A block constructed with twov end wallsoi con.- crete or the like is relatively strong, since. there, is a continuous rectangular ring of concrete or the like all the way around the inner insulating box. However, particularly in instances where the blocks are not subject to much handling, it may be desirable to'uti-li'ze' only one end wall of, concrete, thus further reducing the weight and improving the insulating properties. It will be. understood, therefore, that a block having only one end wall of concrete is within the scope of. this invention.

Although the building wallv and block. of this invention have; been described as composed. of. certain materials; it will be understood. thatvmateri'al's other than those mentioned may be utilized; that the form and shape of the block may be varied within wide ranges; and that. other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, asdefined; in the appended claims;

What is claimed: is:

1. A- buildingwall comprising a plurality of blocks disposed in horizontal rows with the blocks of one row' in staggered relation to the blocks of an-- adjacent row, each of said-blocks having two spaced side walls interconnected: with two spaced end walls of cementitious material to; form anenclosure, a closed six-sidedbox structureformed of material providing dead air spaces interiorly thereof disposed within said enclosure having four sides in supportedcontact with said walls and having the additional top and bottomsides: disposed within the limits of said walls, said box. structure enclosing a major dead air space within the said; six walls; and a body-of mortardisposed between adjacent side walls of the blocks to provide: additional dead air spaces betweenadjacent top, and bottom sides of said six-sided structure- 2:. A building wall according to-claim 1- wherein said box: structure is formed.- oi material havingminor enclosed dead air spaces-within the bound ing surfaces of'said materialk 3. A building wall substantially as directed claim 1 wherein said box structure is formed of corrugated cardboardi REEER'ENGES CITED- Thefollowing references are of record in the file of" this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS 

